Fattened up for Christmas!!

Wed 31st Dec 08, 13.00.
Hello everyone & Happy New Year (well almost!) It seems I have the honour of the very last Fantastic Fireworks blog of 2008. I hope you are all looking forward to the New Year and that you’ve all had a fabulous Christmas – I know I did! I received some lovely presents and have eaten my way through monstrous amounts of yummy food! I see from previous blogs that poor Tom received the extra special gift of Man-Flu for Christmas – well I think my most unwanted present has to be the 27stone I feel I have put on over the last few days! Thankfully no-one else is in the office right now to see me sat here in my pyjama's... they were all I could find to fit me this morning.

As I sit here, roly-poly -ing about my desk, it’s got me thinking about New Years Resolutions. Mine is going to be (as usual) to eat more healthily, do more exercise, and get that washboard stomach we all secretly dream of at long last! I’ve not quite managed it so far, but who knows, 2009 could just be the year...

It makes me wonder what New Years Resolutions everybody else is aiming for this year? Please do share – especially if they are more adventurous (or at least slightly more achievable) than my own! I will look forward to reading them... ;o)

It's Mother's Resting Day

Monday 29th Dec, 08, 10.06
I hope this day finds you all well, not suffering too much from the over-indulgence of Christmas. I was impatient, waiting for the family to wake up on Christmas morning to open their presents (we did have a late night Christmas Eve) . I wonder how many of you still have to hide presents from the big kids?? and l do mean the big kids !! I have to put colours on ours but no names. The Big kids in my family will press, squeeze & shake all the parcels just to see if they can guess what they are, will they receive whatever was on their wish lists ? It was a lazy day for me Boxing Day, getting ready for the next 5 days in the Fantastic Fireworks retail shop. I shall be eagerly awaiting our regular & new customers coming in for their New Year's Eve fireworks,
which brings me to wishing everyone a good holiday & a Very Happy New Year. I hope to see you all soon.
Tina

The Unwanted Present.

Sat 27 Dec 08, 11.50am
Every year Santa comes and gives presents to all the people on earth and this year was no exception. This year Santa brought me an early Christmas present, The Flu. Thanks Santa!
Yes I have been struck down with the dreaded Flu virus since Christmas Eve and today is a good day as I have finally got my voice back after not having it for 2 days.
Apart from feeling rubbish all Christmas I did have a very nice Christmas Day back on the Parents Farm where all the usual festive traditions were had including Turkey, Presents and The Doctor Who Christmas Special.
So before I head off to take even more medicine and down yet another bottle of Lucozade I will take this opportunity to wish all the Fantastic Fireworks Blog readers a very Happy New Year and I will see you all next year.

Merry Christmas & Farewell for now...

23rd December 2008, 12:30pm

Well it's Christmas Eve's Eve and we are all busily scurrying around the office, finishing off those last few jobs before we can close up for the holiday season. The office is looking very festive, and we all can't wait to tuck into the veritable feast that Tina has kindly prepared for us all! (I think we'll all easily go home a stone heavier than when we arrived today!) There is a huge box upstairs groaning under the weight of the assorted - and somewhat curiously shaped(!!) - Secret Santa presents. I can't wait to see what everyone's got... I just hope there's not too many tears or blushing!

I have been with Fantastic Fireworks for 3 months now and am still enjoying every minute of it, thanks to all the lovely people I work with. I just want to wish you all the Merriest of Christmas's and look forward to seeing you all in 2009 x

The 12 Days of Christmas

Monday Dec 22nd 12.47pm
Thank you Emma for providing the following insight into life as a firer:
So while I was heading home from Bush Hall last night, having consumed a near-illegal quantity of Beecham’s Flu Plus, I needed something to keep my highly caffeinated brain occupied while I drove 150 miles down the M4. And I came up with the 12 days of Christmas, Fantastic style – thought it might give you a giggle.

To be sung to the traditional tune…

On the 12th Day of Christmas, Fantastic Fireworks gave to me…
Twelve five-inch tubes,
Eleven Ginster’s Pasties,
Ten candle frames,
Nine cable ties,
Eight hanks of match,
Seven rolls of gaffer,
Six cups of tea,
Five feet of grey…
Four firing orders,
Three cake boards,
Two garden rakes,
And a Travel Lodge on the M3…

Wispa makes a sparkling return

21 Dec 08, 1.03am

A big thank you and well done to everyone from Fantastic Fireworks who took part in the Wispa TV commercial, which was aired last night. Paul Roberts & his team were but a few of the 300 volunteers whose efforts were squeezed into 90 seconds of colourful capers to celebrate the return of the chocolate bar. We can all be proud of the fact that the fireworks occupied a full 30 seconds and looked absolutely stunning. Perhaps the best moment was seeing the Wispa name sparkling away centre stage. This was made at our Rocket Park HQ by one of our new technicians, Turney Logan, who can be delighted at seeing his handiwork on prime time TV. To view the commercial, click here.

We Three Kings

20 Dec 08, 11.49am
Around this time on a Saturday morning I'd usually be listening to Jonathan Ross on Radio 2. Today it's Liza Tarbuck and it's not quite the same. Liza has a pleasant homely style but there was something matey about Jonathan & Andy's banter that made their Saturday show worth tuning into. I hope they're back on air soon. Waiting to see how long Liza could hold my attention, I heard her talking about how in Roman times everyone had to eat cabbage to fight off illness. OK it's this sort of 'factoid' that makes Steve Wright so enjoyable but it wasn't rivetting enough to keep me hanging on for more. I turned over to Radio 4 to find Ian Hislop also talking about the Roman Empire. A slightly odd coincidence but I decided to give it a chance. We Three Kings investigated the origins of the Christmas story and its modern day symbol of present-giving. Ian Hislop has this wonderful ability to draw the listener into his journey with images we can all understand. He drew the parallel between the Kings bearing gifts and today's Christmas cracker with its own symbolic gift, the hat you wear like a crown and the joke which, like the Christmas message, fills us with tidings of great joy. Hislop is an excellent broadcaster with a great sense of comic timing. Radio 2 should give him the Saturday morning show!

(New Improved) Desert Island Dreams (3)

19 Dec 08, 8.38pm
My castaway this week is someone who, prior to joining Fantastic Fireworks, spent several years in France. Today she has swapped the country of Napoleon for the the challenge of marshalling our display teams and giving them their marching orders. France remains a strong influence in the life of Linda Sherriff, as we will shortly find out. So Linda, how do you feel about being cast away?

'Well Kirsty, I mean Jon, I’d be quite happy on a Desert Island, for a while anyway. No washing, shopping, cleaning, working….in fact it’s starting to sound quite appealing, especially if the Island is warm and sunny! I’d have to take my memory foam mattress with me, don’t mind roaming about during the day hunting for food and water but do need a good night's sleep.'

And now tell us your eight choices...

Celine Dion: My Heart Will Go On & On Ne Change Pas. My favourite easy listening artist which I sing along to in the car, unfortunately not quite as well as Celine!
Jean Jacques Goldman: La Bas & Puisque Tu Pars : I could pick any of his songs but particularly like these 2 ballads, Fond memories of his concert in Vincennes, Paris swaying with the crowd with my cigarette lighter aloft!
The Pogues & Kirsty McCall: A Fairytale of New York. Had to pick one Christmas classic and this is my all time favourite.
Queen: Killer Queen & Bohemian Rhapsody. Such classics and I’m proud to own the Bohemian Rhapsody single from 1975 (for those of you who remember the good old days of records!!)
Squeeze: Cool for Cats & Up The Junction. Another one from my record collection is Cool for Cats in Pink Vinyl….now how cool is that!!
James Blunt: Wiseman
Abba: Andante Andante, Fernando & Waterloo. An absolute Abba fanatic in my youth, couldn’t possible just pick one of their songs as a favourite. Delighted to see their revival with the launch of Mama Mia the musical and the film which is brilliant.
Etienne Daho: Des Attractions Desastre

Well Linda Sherriff, by my reckoning that is 13 tracks, which is a diabolical liberty, but I'll let you off. Thank you for letting us share your Desert Island Dreams.

Dear Santa

18 Dec 08, 5.20 pm
I've tried to be a good firer this year, really I have, but my equipment just doesn't seem to be up to the job. So here is my Xmas list for 2008:

1. Nips that cut when I want to cut and pull when I want to pull and not the other way round
2. Suit of armour (for displays on golf driving ranges)
3. Sea sickness pills (for the Bournemouth barge)
4. Waterproof trousers which are really waterproof
5. A SatNav which knows when to shut up and not state the bleedin' obvious **
6. Ever-Ready batteries which really are
7. Thermal underwear that makes a fashion statement
8. Ear defenders that remember to put themselves on before the show starts
9. A head torch that points where my hands are, not six inches to the left
10. And finally - a good night's sleep in November !

** Feel free to use this en route if Rudolph has a cold like last year when you couldn't find my house.

The Songs of Leonard Cohen

17 Dec 08, 6.38pm
The song of the week is undoubtedly Hallelujah. But sitting at home writing the Fantastic Fireworks blog the version I'm listening to is not by X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke but by its original performer and composer, Leonard Cohen. It's not one of my favourite Cohen songs but it's another example of the depth of his repertoire. A couple of years ago I was listening to Desert Island discs when Kim Cattrall included another lesser known Cohen gem, Closing Time, as one of her eight choices. But for all those of us who remember Cohen's debut album The Songs of Leonard Cohen, released in 1967, songs like So Long Marianne, Suzanne & Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye are the ones we grew up with. There was an excellent Radio 4 programme recently entitled Leonard & Marianna which charted the the early life of a struggling Canadian poet and his Norwegian muse on the Greek island of Hydra. It inspired one of popular music's most emotive love songs. So Long Marianne, it's time we began, to laugh and cry, and cry and laugh, about it all again.

Strong Minded Women

16 Dec 2008 1423hrs
Last Friday driving through Kensworth on my way to work when I heard Kensworth mentioned on Radio 5. The local village shop, which I was just passing, had been invaded by two masked thugs holding10 inch knives. Instead of giving in to the threats of the knife wielding yobs the small lady serving in the shop threw her hot tea over one and smashed the empty mug into the face of the other. They ran off taking very little with them.

On my way home tonight I think I shall take some flowers for her. Long live strong minded women.

Sweet Charity

Monday 15th Dec 10.35am
We start off the week at Rocket Park with a dreary, foggy morning. Luckily the weather was more chipper yesterday whilst our very own Fantastic Fireworks Santa (AKA Tom) did his bit for charity and ran 3 miles dressed as Father Christmas in just 26 minutes! Not knowing Luton very well, I was not sure we were in the right place to begin with, until I saw a few hundred jolly Santas running along the road. Not being a keen runner myself, I joined a few other staff members and went along to Wardown Park to support Tom's efforts and cheered from the sidelines. It was a sterling performance and Tom has suceeded in raising over £100 for the Pasque charity. Perhaps this will inspire a few others to join Tom in next year's race?

When Harry Met Sir Ally

14 Dec 08, 7.56am
There were no fireworks and if Shakespeare had been writing the headline in The Sun it might have read Match Ado About Nothing-Nothing. But as a guest at last night's 0-0 draw between Spurs and Manchester United I loved every minute. Seeing top stars like Cristiano Ronaldo & the £30 million Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov is every true football fan's dream. But it was United's J S Park (who cost just £4 million) who caught my eye. He was absolutely tiresless, buzzing like a hornet on the left, then on the right, then back in defence. No wonder Sir Alex Ferguson played him the full 90 minutes. By contrast Spurs' inspirational boss Harry Redknapp, is making the best of limited resources. He's revived the morale of a team who had lost all self-belief. I wonder if, given Sir Alex's spending power, he could have achieved the same success. At the age 0f 62, we'll probably never know. Well that's my Sunday football sermon over for the day. I shall soon be off to watch our very own human dynamo Tom Clark run himself into the ground. This morning's Santa Run at Wardown Park, Luton, is in aid of the Pasque Charity and we're pleased to be part of it.

A present from the past

13 Dec 08, 08, 11.01am
A very fine bottle of claret is sitting on my desk. At this festive time of the year it's very tempting to open it. But this is no ordinary claret. It was brought in the other day by Tina, our office angel (who cooks, sows and generally looks after us). Chevalier Fantastic Fireworks 1996 is probably the only remaining unopened bottle from a case I bought some 10 years ago and gave as Christmas presents to our staff. Tina found it while clearing out the bedroom of her recently departed son and ex-FF employee, Scott, and thought I might like to have it back. Rather than drink it I've decided to have it framed and mounted in Reception as a souvenir of the 20th Century.

How exciting!

12 Dec 2008 13:46
I was pleasantly surprised to find petrol for about 87p per litre last night. That's quite a drop from what we were all paying a few months ago. I have no idea why the price of fuel has come down so much recently, has it just become cheaper or have they suddenly found more oil?

As I was filling up the Louis van I thought about how much I paid for petrol when first started driving 6 years ago and I can't actually remember paying much less than 87p. That's brilliant and if it hadn't of been for a van with a leaky petrol tank I might have put more in than £10!

Do you remember what fuel cost when you first started driving?

A Once In A Lifetime Opportunity

11 Dec 08, 3:30pm
On this cold and frosty day at Rocket Park the Display & Retail teams have been busy attending a very interesting training course, lead by the lovely Ali. I now know all sorts about fireworks and fusing that I didn’t before, and feel I can now chat to our wonderful Firers with a little more confidence! Though as interesting and exciting as I found the training to be, I am very thankful today has been theory based only! On comfy chairs in our warm & dry training room was certainly the best place to be, and I think I may just wait for a warm spring or summers day before I move onto the practical part outside! ;o)

In the meantime I am looking forward to a few days off from the office. I have mountains of Christmas shopping, Christmas card writing and Christmas tree decorating to be getting on with – Tina’s sparkly decorations in the office have certainly put me to shame and I fear it may be 2009 before I get mine done!! Even though I won’t be in the office it seems I just can’t keep myself away from Fantastic Fireworks related activities... On Sunday, Jon and I will be a two-person cheerleading squad for Tom’s Santa Run at Wardown Park, in aid of The Pasque Hospice. Please come along if you are free and wish to show your support to Tom and this fantastic cause. As well as the chance to watch Tom break the world land-speed record in a Santa suit, you may also get to witness us cheerleaders performing an extravagant pom-pom dance routine at the finish line....... I’m not guaranteeing it will happen... but do you really want to run the risk of missing out if it does...?

Dave draws the short straw on the 18th floor

10 Dec 08, 10.43pm
No wonder Fantastic Fireworks people are a hardy breed. Apart from getting cold and wet there are many other hazards lying in wait - and that's not including the fireworks. We heard recently about James and Emma getting locked out on the roof of a tower block in Portsmouth. Tonight it was Dave Mannion's turn to suffer a tower failure. He was on the 18th floor of a Sheffield office block for a display to celebrate the reopening of the city's Lady's Bridge. After impressing the large crowd with a super show, Dave and his team were looking forward to getting their gear back down the same way as it came up - by the lift. That was before they discovered that the lift operator had finished work & gone home! Several trips up and down 18 flight of stairs later they finally completed the de-rig. Dave, I hope you sleep soundly tonight because you're out on another show in Salford tomorrow. The good news is that this one is on terra firma. After tonight's experience that will suit you right down to the ground!

SANTA 81

09 Dec 08, 10.40am

This Sunday 14th December at Wardown Park in Luton The Pasque Charity ''Santa Run'' will be taking place. Fantastic Fireworks has entered a Team into this run and that Team is ME! I dont want your money but I do want your support. So if you fancy a good laugh at my expense or if you really do want to help by cheering me along then be at Wardown Park on Sunday. The race starts at 11.00 am which means that I will no doubt be in Hospital by 11.30 am.

Come on Number 81!

Wispa - it's a wrap!

08 Dec 08, 10.55pm
The film is in the can, now we just have to wait until December 20th to see it on TV. Filming fireworks for the Wispa commercial was never going to be a stroll and by 9.30pm tonight our senior firer Paul Roberts was wondering if he'd ever get home. His day had started at 5.30am when he set off for work from his home in the Midlands. He arrived at Rocket Park, the head office of Fantastic Fireworks, at 7.30am and made sure the vans were correctly loaded for the trip to Alexandra Palace. The rest of the team arrived a couple of hours later and by midday they were setting up for the 6pm scheduled start to the show. This was to provide the closing scene for a 90-second commercial celebrating the return of the Cadbury's chocolate bar. Like all good parties this one overran the expected finish time. But when the Wispa logo finally lit up to put a sparkling full stop to the fireworks, everyone agreed it had been worth the wait.

The Eiffel's still an eyeful

07 Dec 08, 10.01am
The fireworks on the Eiffel Tower on Millennium Eve raised the bar in pyrotechnic creativity. Granted the Australians created a similar visual impact on Sydney Harbour Bridge but for many the Paris display by the French company Groupe F is the one we all remember. I was reminded of it again last night while admiring Paris's stunning Christmas lights (the new must-have this year is a brilliant snowfall effect created by LED tubes suspended in trees). The base of the Eiffel Tower is bedecked in a myriad of lights celebrating France's commitment to the European Union and every hour it sparkles from top to bottom in a light show which lets everyone know who's the boss. It's not fireworks but it's a still a magical sight.

Don't call the police!

06 Dec 08, 7.42am
The coffee & croissants aboard this morning's Eurostar to Paris don't match up to my usual Saturday morning fare at Fantastic Fireworks. My freshly ground, dark roast Arabica beans make a far more pungent espressso and the croissants are cold and stodgy. I'm already missing my doughnuts! Which reminds me. When I called in at our local bakers last week to collect the usual Saturday morning order, I told them that if ever I were not to turn up, they were to call the police. I forgot to mention this weekend's jaunt. I hope they didn't take me seriously!

Back to reality

05 Dec 08, 10.30am
Yesterday morning I woke up in Hong Kong and then went to sleep in Dunstable after a massive day of travel. So here I am back at Fantastic Fireworks filling people in on the story of my big China adventure. It has been a manic two weeks in which I have seen some amazing fireworks and some even more amazing sights. Next week I will be filling everyone in at length with a full report. However for now I am going to check my emails and then get some much needed sleep.

All for the love of Wispa

04 Dec 08, 3.43pm
While Steve & Tom make their weary way home from China, life at Fantastic Fireworks continues to fizz. Just as we thought the pyro-pace would slacken after November, a call from the Cadburys Wispa team has changed all that. Could we help with the shooting of a major Christmas TV commercial promoting the return of Britain's favourite chocolate bar? You bet! On Monday, Paul and a team of eager volunteers (thanks Dick, Justin, Rino & co) will be at a top secret location in North London preparing a spectacular final scene. The 90-second commercial will take the form of a celebration party featuring all sorts of amazing scenes and characters. It will be screened during Family Fortunes on ITV on December 20th. The commercial is the culmination of a campaign by Wispa in which thousands of people have made pledges. I'll keep everyone posted with an update on Tuesday. In the meantime thanks to all at Wispa for sending us a stash. With an office full of chocoholics they'd all disappeared by the time I asked for one.

Fight off those winter chills

03 Dec 08, 2.28pm
As we are targeted one by one by the dreaded lurgy that is sweeping the Fantastic Fireworks office (David is the latest victim...) nothing is better than a good old mulled wine to warm you up and fight off the winter chills.
You will need:
2 (or as many as you want!!) x 75 cl bottles medium to full-bodied red wine (Bulgarian Cabernet Sauvignon is ideal)
1 orange stuck with cloves
2 oranges sliced
2 lemons sliced
6 level tablespoons granulated sugar or honey
2 inch (5 cm) piece cinnamon stick
2 level teaspoons finely grated fresh root ginger or ground ginger
2 tablespoons fruit liqueur such as Cointreau, Grand Marnier or cherry brandy (optional)
Put all the ingredients in a saucepan with 2½ pints (1.5 litres) water then heat to simmering point, stirring until all the sugar has dissolved. Keep it barely at simmering point for at least 20 minutes – but do not boil or all the alcohol will evaporate.
Then pour yourself a glass, phone your boss, say you've been struck down with the flu and won't be in work and enjoy!!!

And now the end is near.........

02 Dec 08, 2.30pm
As hard as it is for me to believe, our China tour is now coming to an end. When I return to the UK I will of course be bringing with me news of all the new exciting effects and developments in the Pyro World that I have seen during my time here. I will also be bringing back with me a new found love and respect for China and the people here. I can honestly say that throughout all of my travels around the world I have never been made to feel more welcome. On a personal note I will take this opportunity to say hello and a big thank you to Lena who was my amazing Translator.

See you all soon.

Fireworks Fauna

1st Dec 08, 5.15 pm
Just down the road from Fantastic Fireworks there is a regular display venue where most firers have performed at one time or another. It's a nice little site, quite small shows, but a good training ground, and very relaxing after the hurly burly of the main season.

It also has one (or rather three) unique features - Alpacas. These llama-like creatures occupy the adjacent field which provides access to the firing site. Far from being bothered by the comings and goings or even the fireworks themselves, they are intensely curious, and should an unwary crew leave the van open or park in a careless manner, they are likely to return to find one or more of the alpacas with their heads in the back perusing the pyro or idly chewing on the windscreen wipers.

Over the years, these animals have winessed dozens of displays, and so by now are quite competent critics and show designers. They line up to watch each display, and if you listen very carefully you can sometimes hear them whispering to each other afterwards - "Nice cakes. Shame about the finale though - bloody brocades again !"

A Changing World

30 Nov 08, 1.27am (Liuyang Time)
I have eaten some strange but extremely nice dishes in the cause of Fantastic Fireworks over the last few days. Dog, goat and perch to name just three - and all very tasty I might add, but one of the most memorable things about this trip, other than the fireworks and the hospitality, is the obvious way in which our world is changing...
I last visited China two years ago and remembered a country that was 'an emerging economy' with many obvious signs of the gulf between those that have and those that haven't. In those two years the changes here have been immense with many new high rise appartment blocks appearing on the Liuyang skyline, along with a really noticeable increase in the number of cars on the road and the number of people shopping on streets that now boast names like Armani and McDonalds.
We hear stories in the media that China is the world's fastest growing economy and that even in these times of global recession it has but 'slowed down'. However from here it is obvious that the growth continues. People have more disposable income now in the major cities and most of the old and rundown homes I remember from my last visit are being renovated and lived in.
With all the bad news about at the moment it is good to know that for people here things are getting better and the standard of living is improving very fast.
Later today we leave the home of fireworks and fly to the southern China city of Beihai before travelling back to the UK next week knowing that I will take back memories of a more prosperous China than I did on my last visit. For now though it has been another long day and whilst you all set out for your Saturday night on the town I must go to bed and get to sleep, resting on the thought that all our consumerism is making life much better for at least one corner of the world.

Say it with Flowers!

29 Nov 08, 4.16pm
Steve promised to post his latest Fantastic Fireworks blog from China today on the subject of local cuisine. He was telling me yesterday about how he'd sampled dog for the first time. He's either suffering from in-dog-estion or he's gone back for seconds. While waiting to hear more about his dog's dinner, let me offer a morsel of advice on the delicate subject of birthday presents for a loved one. I once bought my wife a cookery book. Bad move. It was perceived as an insult to her culinary skills. Today I bought her flowers. There is no argument about flowers. They look nice, they smell nice and they brighten up the house. Happy birthday, darling!

The view from afar - from Chris in Sri Lanka

28 Nov 08, 3.19am
I hope you can read this OK. I send the blog from 5500 miles away in Sri Lanka. But if you can read blogs written in China I guess you can read mine. How the electricity gets the words all those miles and still manage to make them clear on your screen at Fantastic Fireworks I don't know. I just wanted to demonstrate my advanced grasp of IT.

Sri Lanka is a brilliant place to visit. I saw advertised a full-board/hotel/drinks/flights/everything two week package for seven hundred quid the other day. However if you picked the last 12 days (since I arrived here) you'd have seen about 5 hours of sun. Rain and cloud a-plenty in what is meant to be the dry season. I have a motor-bike here but resort to the trusty three-wheel taxis when it rains, which is frequent. However this morning is blue skies and bright hot sun, so perhaps one of the Sri Lankan Gods (you have several to choose from) was listening.

12 days of meetings, travelling to the north and south, visiting school-help projects, and re-acclimatising to the heat and humidity. Life is pleasantly hectic and we are getting back into the groove of daily life of the it-doesn't-quite-work-but-so-what Lankan lifestyle.

Desert Island Dreams (2)

27 Nov 08, 9.30am
Not to be outdone by the office staff (Desert Island Dreams 17 Nov), I offer the following list of Desert Island Discs on behalf of the Fantastic Fireworks Firing Fraternity:
1. Morning Has Broken - Cat Stevens
2. The Long & Winding Road - Beatles
3. Rhythm of the Rain - Cascades
4. Light My Fire - Jose Feliciano
5. In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins
6. Flash Bang Wallop - Tommy Steele
7. Great Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis
8. Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple
9. On The Road Again - Canned Heat
10. Back Home - England World Cup Squad

And one luxury - how about some waterproof Probans ?

A Night In The Life Of An FF Firer...

26 Nov 08, 3.30pm
Today Linda and I were struggling to find something to write about in our blog. It's been a relatively calm and gentle day in the office, and besides writing about VAT & taxes there's not an awful lot happening in the news either. Just as we were seriously debating starting an 'FF Pets Corner' (oh yes it really was getting that desperate), the lovely Emma Parkinson, one of our Firers, leapt to our aid with a very funny story which we decided we must share with you all.

So over to Emma:

" How about (blogging about) how working for Fantastic Fireworks helps you if you’re looking for an exciting nightlife?

Let me tell you a story about James Tossell and I getting shut on the roof of a shopping centre in Portsmouth last week. Somebody opened the lift door on the bottom floor, leaving us stranded in the dark with all our kit, the client gone for the night and nobody answering the radio.

We had to clamber over air con vents and all sorts to find the only other open door on the roof of the complex. We went through the mystery door and followed a funny little corridor down past staff rooms and notices and then… wandered straight out into Portsmouth’s branch of Tiger Tiger nightclub… Which was going on in full swing… In our grimy red overalls…

We had to walk all the way through the nightclub from the top floor, getting funny looks from all the dressed up punters and more than a few comments, too. And given some of the advances we got, if you’re out on the pull in Portsmouth you could do far worse than to go out wearing red overalls and a hard hat. "

I'm sure that story has made you all giggle/cringe sympathetically for poor Emma & James as much as it did me! And as for Emma's top tip of red overalls & a hard hat for your next big night out... well that's the Christmas party outfit sorted then ;o)

Another Day, Another Airport Lounge!

26 Nov 08, 10.05pm

I wish I collected Air Miles as today Steve and I moved on to our next destination. After a short flight we landed in Liu Yang (home of the firework). As I sit here on the 19th floor of our massive hotel I can look back on another hectic day in search of even more Fantastic Fireworks! Today we saw some new and exciting products during a demo and were then whisked away to talk through some new ideas over the dinner table. In the morning we have some more meetings and another demo of new products to see. On a personal note I joked with Jon about not coming back before I left. Might not have been a joke?

We Meet Again

25 Nov 08 11.48pm

Tom finally arrived in China this morning to tell me of the delights of second class hotels and much airline catering, looking like his 'red eye' flight did the trick..... I can't complain though as I was wined and dined by Mr Lee and Qi Hong in An Ping county and managed to eat enough, and drink enough, for both of us. After finishing business once we picked Tom up at the airport we were whisked around Beijing to do the tourist bit and see the sights, mostly from the backseat of Qi Hongs 4x4. We did however take a quick trip out of Beijing to the Great Wall only to find that we were both too tired to make it up the hill to the entrance, let alone walk along it. The day ended with a Peking Duck extravaganza, the only meal I've ever had where you are given a certificate, and a walk around the Olympic site with, hopefully, a full night's sleep to follow. Tomorrow, an early start sees us both, I hope, travel two-thirds of the way through China to Chang Sha and then another long journey by car to Liu Yang in the Hunan province where the fireworks should really begin...

One Night In Paris!

24 Nov 08, 11.10 am
Picture a man with no luggage, no Euros, no clean socks and absolutely no grasp of the French language. That man is me. Here I sit blogging to you live from Paris CDG Airport (I know that's not in China). Due to the great British Weather my flight was delayed which meant I missed my connection to Beijing and Steve went ahead on his own. So I have spent the day being very bored in Paris. I feel sorry for the person who has to sit next to me for 10 hours on the plane as due to my lack of luggage I have been wearing the same clothes for 2 days! Hopefully my next blog will be from sunny China. See you all soon!

A rose by any other name

23 Nov 08, 1.23pm
The firework season gets in the way of the gardening season, so it's only now that I'm able to get to work on the flower beds and greenhouse. One task involves cutting down and bringing in my Canna lily collection. These underrated and hard-to-find plants produce a spectacular blaze of late summer colour. Their long stems and explosion of orange and red blooms resemble the firework trail and burst of a lift of comet-tailed shells. Gardening and a love of fireworks seem to go together. I know my colleague at Kimbolton Fireworks, the Rev Ron Lancaster, to be a keen gardener, and so too was another scion of the fireworks industry, the late Chris Philip, who catalogued garden plants. It's a shame I couldn't copyright the name Fantastic Fireworks, otherwise I could charge a royalty on all the clematis, geraniums and roses which carry our name!

China bound

22 Nov 08, 11.20am
Their passports, visas and toothbrushes are packed. Steve & Tom from our display department will soon be China-bound, searching out new and exciting effects for Fantastic Fireworks' 2009 showcase. Next week they will be posting regular blogs as they visit six factories, travelling from the sub-zero temperatures of northern China to the warmth of the south. Our Chinese hosts are always eager to please, most courteous and generous with their hospitality. In a country that has to feed more than a billion mouths one thing you soon discover is that few creatures escape the dinner table. However the Chinese are sensible to Western tastes even if, just occasionally, you have to avert your eyes when you spot the odd beak poking out of a dish! Which reminds me of a terrible joke one of our firers told me recently. A group of people go into a Chinese restaurant and place their order. When the dish arrives, to their horror they see the lid lift slightly and a watery eye looking out at them. Quickly they slam the slid down and summon the waiter. 'What's the problem' he asks. 'Well take a look,' they say. The lid lifts again and there is the eye looking out. The waiter swears. Then he summons his chef and shouts 'They order Chicken Chow Mein. This Peeking Duck.'

A Crucial Divide

21 Nov 2008 9:25
This week I enjoyed a couple of much needed days off. During my time at home one of my tasks was to make a bulkhead for my/Louis' (the puppy) van. After a morning session with the jigsaw I had fashioned something that should do the job. This doesn't sound very exciting, but there is only so much hair on the front seats, dirt on the front seats, gearstick chewing, handbrake chewing and carpet ripping that a person can take. My work of art has so far stood the test and kept the 34kg puppy at bay. I have to say I'm rather proud... and relieved.

How Clean Is Your Site?

20 Nov 08, 8.46am

This week the clean-up operation after the season continues. Myself and my band of merry men have been busy scraping pegs, bundling stakes, cleaning out tubes and tidying up cables. It takes months of preparation to get ready for the season and almost as long to clean up afterwards. So spare a thought for the brave souls who are out there now in all weathers cleaning mud from kit!

This time next week I will be doing my Blog live from China. I will be out there visiting all our current suppliers and some new ones in order to find some new ground-breaking effects for 2009.

The Midnight Hour

19 Nov 08, 11.48pm
As the midnight hour approaches I've hurried back from our firers' dinner in order to report proceedings. This popular event on the FF calendar is a chance for all our pyrotechnicians to meet up and regale each other with stories of Bonfire Night heroics over chicken satay and Thai green curry. When I left there were still a handful of diehards huddled in the corner noisily discussing the merits of pyroclock fuse against plastic igniter cord. Or were they arguing over who should give Linda and Kate a lift home? I'm not sure but such is their passion for pyro, and our office staff, that I left reassured that the future of Fantastic Fireworks is in safe hands!

The Pros and Cons of my visit, by Fred Wade

18 Nov 08, 1.37am
Fred Wade, CEO of our associate company Fireworks/FX in Canada, gives the lowdown on a wet week with Fantastic Fireworks helping on our Bonfire Night shows.
It can't be only a week since I came back to Canada from my stint in England, it seems like ages ago. We landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia, last Tuesday, had to prepare as guest speaker for a Chamber of Commerce awards dinner for Thursday and had to fly to Ottawa on Sunday for 3 days of meetings, whew!
As with most things there were pros and cons with my visit this time, let's see if I can detail a few:
Guinness on tap PRO
the weather CON
staying at the Silver Cup in Harpenden PRO
the rain CON
driving to London with a sat nav phone on steriods CON
my crewmates PRO
drinking tea in the back of a lorry with the rain coming down PRO and CON
driving stakes CON
glancing around while setting up at Blenheim Palace PRO
pulling stakes CON
locking the keys in the truck CON
getting a cab home at 3:30 am CON
eating around town PRO
being in England PRO
learning the lingo PRO
tying on with wire CON
setting up in the rain CON
shooting in the rain CON
packing up in the rain CON
the scenery PRO
trying to guess what spotted dick was on the menu PRO
having a day off PRO
knowing that I wasn't in charge of anything at all PRO
knowing that I had to go home to be in charge of everything CON
did I mention the weather? CON
Seriously though I had a great time in spite of everything, and my hat is off to the entire Fantastic Fireworks team for such a magnificent effort. I shake my head in amazement in how many shows you pulled off under such yucky conditions.
Hope to make it over with a whole crew next year, we'll all wear red plaid shirts and suspenders so you can pick the Canadian lumberjacks out from all the rest.

Cheers,

Fred

Desert Island Dreams

17 Nov 08, 5.38pm
In these dark & gloomy days of winter it's only natural to dream of warm beaches & sunny skies. In the first of an occasional series (& with due homage to the BBC & Roy Plomley) I've asked the Fantastic Fireworks staff to choose their Desert Island Discs. My first castaway is our office admin manager, the lovely Kate McGing. Kate has been with us only a few months and has already proved herself to be a top ten hit with staff and clients.

So Kate McGing, tell me about your choices...

Well Kirsty, I mean Jon, it was very hard but here goes...

1. R.E.M. – Losing My Religion (my all-time favourite band! Extremely hard to pick just one song!)
2. The Smiths – How Soon Is Now (again I love everything by The Smiths but this song just about pips the rest to the post)
3. Otis Reading – These Arms of Mine (gives me goosebumps!)
4. Johnny Cash – I Walk The Line (I’ve been slightly obsessed with Johnny Cash since seeing the film of the same name)
5. Blondie – Heart of Glass (just a great song)
6. Killers – Mr. Brightside (a more recent favourite than some of the above!)
7. Kaiser Chiefs – Oh My God (This song came out just as I was leaving home – it made me chuckle with the line “Oh My God I can’t believe it I’ve never been this far away from home” – just what I was feeling!!)
8. Take That – Rule The World (just to throw in a bit of cheese! I loved them as a teenager - think they’ve got better with age!)

I would have to take Jane Eyre with me as my favourite book, I read it for the first time 10 years ago and still love it now.

Luxury item would be my lovely little Burmese cat Coco (if pets are allowed!). Great company and she would keep me amused with her antics all day :o)

I think I would have to spend my time creating ‘101 exciting ways to eat coconuts’ which would surely be a bestselling cookbook once I am rescued and return home!

Thank you Kate for letting us hear your Desert Island Discs & don't forget to come back to work tomorrow!

Stand up for Simon Brodkin

16 Nov 08, 7.44am
What do fireworks people do in their spare time? Well some talk fireworks morning, noon and night, even in their sleep. Others have homes, families and hobbies to look after. Linda has her Avon clients, Chris has gone off to Sri Lanka on a Rotary project and Ian plays in a band called The Electric Jellyfish. Me? I enjoy gardening, football and going out to the theatre and cinema. Last night I saw a very funny new comedian at our local theatre in Hemel Hemsptead Old Town. Simon Brodkin has created an Ali G-like character called Lee Nelson, the chav with charm. For an hour he had us rolling in the aisles with his take on everything from hoodies (that bird from Scottish Widows, she never stabbed no one) to romance (I love giving my girl flowers, lucky we live next to an accident black spot). He's currently appearing on Al Murray's ITV show. Catch him if you can.

Threats and opportunities

15 Nov 08, 11.46am
A week ago it was all systems go, the office buzzing, people arriving, vans departing. Today Rocket Park is deserted save for me and our cleaners Lynne & Charlie. In the office all is quiet except for the distant sound of a vacuum cleaner and a radio. Now and again I hear Lynne singing along to songs like You're So Vain. She can't be thinking of Charlie surely! The tidal wave of firework displays which swept over us this past 10 days has passed and I'm thinking about how we're going to plan for next year. Recession, a tumbling pound, increased costs. But hey, every threat is an opportunity. We'll be there, bigger, stronger, fitter and with a new spring in our step!

The Tail Of Two Dogs

14 Nov 08, 1.54pm
Once upon a time at the end of Half Moon Lane there was a young lady walking her beloved Dalmatian. They had just reached Rocket Park when her companion went off to explore and vanished from sight. Despite calling and calling, he did not return. Fraught with worry the lady ventured into Fantastic Fireworks for help. She told the handsome display manager about her lost dog and he kindly took her number and went off to search.

Some hours later there was still no sign of the lost Dalmatian. However, a gentleman who was passing Rocket Park came into Fantastic Fireworks and said there was a lost dog walking around the Yard. Could this be the lost dog they were looking for? The valiant display manager rescued the lost dog and called the number on the collar at once. The owner was very relieved, but this was not the lost Dalmatian. Seeing the disappointment in the display manager’s ocean-blue eyes, the gentleman told him that he had also seen a Dalmatian only couple of hours earlier. He said it had been put into the back of a van in Half Moon Lane. Could this be possible, was the lost dog now a stolen dog!?

The charismatic display manager quickly rang the number he had been given by the young lady. There was no answer so he left a message explaining her much-loved companion could have been stolen. Having a dog of his own the prince - I mean display manager - felt the lady’s anguish and began to call the RSPCA and the police.

During the phone calls (which did not seem to be going anywhere fast) another member of the Fantastic Fireworks A-Team took a call from the young lady. She thanked FF for all the help and informed them that she had recovered her Dalmatian safely. Relieved, the display manger could only think that the gentleman from earlier had seen the lady recover her dog in her own van on Half Moon Lane. During the commotion the display manager, despite his acute sense of awareness, had not noticed the other lost dog being collected by its owner.

Finally the crisis had been resolved and the tail of two dogs had ended. The owners and their companions lived happily ever after.

Based on a true story. No dogs were harmed during the writing of this blog

Target For Tonight

13 Nov 08, 9.30am
It was while firing to The Dam Busters that it occurred to me -

Rocket Park during the season resembles nothing so much as a WWII bomber base 'somewhere in England'. Especially in the early hours of the morning, when the vans return, low on fuel and covered in mud, thundering in through the gates, back from their 'missions'. They 'taxi' down to 'dispersal', and the crews climb down. grimy, sweaty, completely exhausted, to be met by Station Adjutant Chris with steaming mugs of hot chocolate.

"How was it ?" " Bloody awful. Weather was bad, worse than expected - couldn't see the audience, let alone the fireworks. Rain got in the electrics - had to fire by hand. And then the radios failed. Wizard show though."

"Well done chaps - now get off and have some sleep. We'll need maximum effort again tonight."

The only thing missing is the bacon and eggs. Next year perhaps, Chris ?

Heartless thieves who nearly spoiled it for the kids

12 Nov 08, 4.30pm
I'd like to tell you about the sad tale about one of our customers whose fireworks display was nearly ruined this year by inconsiderate thieves. The day before their big show, their premises were broken into and the majority of their fireworks stolen! The customer organises the bonfire event for a large number of scout groups in his area with the aim of raising funds. It's such a shame because really it was the children who were being robbed of their fun. Needless to say we here at Fantastic Fireworks did all we could to replace the missing items so the show could go on. The stolen fireworks were eventually recovered from a stolen van but unfortunately in such a damaged state they couldn't be used.

To add insult to injury, due to the fact that the fireworks were found, the scouts' insurance company will not fulfil any claim, which to me seems very unfair. Perhaps there have been too many people trying to take advantage of a bad situation, leading to all these conditions that we must abide by.

After some research I have found some bogus/funny insurance claims made in the past mainly relating to motor accidents. Some of them you may have heard before...but the oldies are the best. Here are just a few:

"The guy was all over the road. I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him."

"Coming home I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I don't have."

"I told the police that I was not injured, but on removing my hat found that I had a fractured skull."

"No one was to blame for the accident but it would never have happened if the other driver had been alert."

"Going to work at 7am this morning I drove out of my drive straight into a bus. The bus was 5 minutes early."

Perhaps after having these sorts of claims the insurance companies have every right to get stroppy and start making their demands...or maybe they are just greedy.

It was a happy ending for our customer in the end. The display went very well...one of the best ever apparently! And they are very excited about next year and their new security plans :)

Hope that gave you a laugh on this chilly Wednesday evening.

The Fantastic Fireworks Family

11 Nov 08, 12.20pm
Underneath all our gloss is the reality of real people with real feelings doing real work. The fact that our work is to set fire to things in the name of entertainment does make it a little odd.

The last dozen or so blogs allude to the stress of intense peaks and the combinations of fatigue and elation. The teams who contribute to putting the jigsaw together from the very first client conversation to the very last firework burst in the sky become with each other, as families do, intensely bonded and at times almost as intensely irritated. Emotions run high and shared exultation comes with frustration when things become testing. The Fantastic Firework Family is a disparate collection of enthusiastic, hard-working, dedicated people who, shock-horror, do not always see eye to eye, particularly when the stress levels peak.


But as families go, it endures and we remember not the grumpy times, but the happy times, of which there are many.

They think it's all over, it is now!

10 Nov 08, 4.03pm
As another season bites the dust, or in this case the mud, here are some stats that cover one of the busiest and most successful firework seasons we've undertaken. We fired 110 shows, employed 175 pyrotechnicians, laminated 748 pages of firing orders (resulting, according to Kate & Linda, in 20 slightly burnt & plastic-y fingers!), booked 76 beds & full English breakfasts and travelled nearly 10,000 miles, between Peebles and Polperro. It's a tribute to the training, dedication and professionalism of our firing teams that all this was accomplished in some of the worst weather we've had for years. We hope our audiences enjoyed the shows as much as our crews enjoyed firing them and look forward to seeing you all again next year!

Bed said Fred

09 Nov 08, 11.25am
Spare a thought this morning for poor Fred. Just as I was writing about the ups and downs of the fireworks world in yesterday's blog, our Canadian guest Fred Wade suffered almost exactly the fate I described. Having worked tirelessly all day on a show at Blenheim Palace last night, got rained on and almost blown away, Fred was looking forward to getting home to a nice warm bath. He arrived back at Fantastic Fireworks HQ at 2am and was about to head home when he realised that not only had he locked the van with the keys still inside but that he'd left his lights on and the car wouldn't start. He was well and truly stranded in the middle of nowhere! Several taxi calls later Fred eventually crawled into bed at 4am. When I called him at 10am he was having a coffee and claiming to be 'bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.' You need that sort of spirit to survive in this business. I just hope the experience hasn't put him off returning for our annual battle with earth, wind and fireworks (& flat batteries).

If Carlsberg ran a breakdown service...

08 Nov 08, 11.01am
As the rain beats down on another soggy Saturday it's difficult to comprehend why we should all enjoy the fireworks game so much. You get rained on, your fingers and toes are frozen and one of your firing team has just cried off sick. To make matters worse an important part of your kit is missing and to cap it all, your van breaks down on the way home. Yes, all these things happen, not always altogether, but enough to trigger that oft-repeated thought 'Why am I doing this?' The answer is that fireworks is part of showbiz and we're the performers. The show must go on. When it's all over and the cheers go up for another dazzling display, we're on a high. All the stresses and strains are quickly forgotten and we can't wait for the next one. It reminds me of a motivational video about the Pike Place fish market in Seattle where the fishmongers have turned the messy business of selling fish into a performing art. They developed four key tenets for making their job enjoyable: Have Fun, Be There, Make Their Day & Choose Your Attitude. For all the trials and tribulations we experience at Fantastic Fireworks, we have fun, we're there for our audience, we make their day, and if our van breaks down on the way home, we calmly call our helpline. Within minutes a beautiful girl arrives with mugs of hot chocolate, marshmallows, and a breakdown vehicle complete with a reclining bed and a hot water bottle. She is of course from the Carlsberg RAC, probably the best breakdown service in the world.

Nearly there

07 Nov 08, 3.50pm
It's the final leg, only 2 days to go. Near the end of my first season and what a journey it's been. I feel like I have learnt more in the last 2 weeks than I did in the first 6 months at Fantastic Fireworks.

It's been tiring but exciting. Lots of laughs have been shared, shows fired, and panics averted. Many a hot chocolate (with marshmallows of course) have been consumed. I don't think I have ever had so many take-aways on so many consecutive days before...I have forgotten what vegetables look like and have gained at least an inch round my waistline.

Sleep deprivation has been so bad at times I have been unable to talk for fear of getting my words wrong.

My dog Louis (pictured here) has learnt fantastic bladder control as he waits patiently in our van for me to let him out to do his business. I just can't get away from my desk.

All in all it has been a very enjoyable season and I will look forward to the next one!

The Tom Clark Congressional Medal Of Honour

06 Nov 08, 10.30am
In my previous blogs I have paid tribute to many of my personal hereos. Today I would like to pay tribute to two more. Due to a list of problems yesterday (not least of which was my van failing to start) I was massively delayed in getting to my Display. At the last minute I had to call upon the services of two members of staff who were not supposed to be standing in a muddy wet field with me but working in the relative calm and dry of the FF Site. Today I would like to give the Tom Clark Congressional Medal Of Honour to David Willsher and Turney Logan.

Remember Remember the 5th November

05 Nov 08, 10.36am
The season is here, almost nearing the end
The driving and firing and the hours you spend
Of rigging and setting those stakes in the ground
the cables, the wires, the lost bit's.......now found?
So many displays and the memories you'll treasure
So the audience gets their moment of pleasure.
Of watching the rockets, the shells and the mines
Fantastic Fireworks....music in perfect time
As the crowd start to gather for their firework fix
They've no idea your day started at 6.00!!
I had no inclination when I joined this team
Of the time it would take and what it would mean
The effort, the team work, endless hours in the day
The decisions and kit that make up a display
So thank you to all you've made dreams come true
Our SUPER FANTASTIC FIREWORK Crew..
It's thanks to you all we'll look back and remember
2008...the month of November....

Latest update from Field Marshal Ali

04 Nov 08, 11.24am
Army rankings start with a Field Marshal and work their way down through Generals, Brigadiers, Colonels and Majors to the humble Private. Our very own Field Marshal Ali, veteran leader of campaigns at Wimbledon, Morden, Stoke Park, Leeds and Blenheim Palace, gives her upbeat assessment of the season so far...

When the going gets tough, the tough get wet!

03 Nov 08, 12.12pm
Our 100th blog comes on a day of aching limbs and webbed feet! Or it seems that way after one of the wettest firework weekends we can remember. But the good news is that all our shows went well and our crews are regrouping for battle again on Wednesday. I use 'battle' in the context of the elements which at this time of the year can be a very real adversary. It's a tribute to our teams, their training, professionalism and dedication that we were able to entertain so many people in such appalling weather. We have just received a call from the organisers of the Windsor Racecourse display thanking us for a wonderful display and expressing amazement that we were able to fire it at all. It's a similar story for all our teams in the South and Midlands. But up at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Steve Boothman's crew basked in sunshine all day and rocked the roller-coasters at showtime. Well done to you Steve but don't forget to pack your raincoat for Liverpool on Wednesday!

Hot Chocolate

02 Nov 08, 7.37pm
Servicing the 100+ displays going out from FF HQ means early starts and late finishes. Crews will often be collecting vehicles ready loaded with equipment and fireworks at 7 or 8 in the morning prior to a drive of perhaps 2 or 3 hours before setting up the display. Depending on the complexity and size of the display between 2 and a dozen people will be working on site for 5 to 10 hours before the first firework is lit. Maybe 10 to 20 minutes of sparkling sky-filling entertainment later, the long haul of returning the equipment to the van and clearing up begins, to end with an arrival back at FF HQ before or sometimes after midnight.

And Cocoa awaits. My job, among many, is to make sure a steaming mug of delicious hot chocolate welcomes the firers back and sets them up for their final drive home.

Fantastic Fireworks. And hot chocolate. It's what we do. It's what we drink.

Linda speaks to the nation

1 Nov 08, 11.31am
All our shows are out on the road and all is calm at HQ. We have nearly 30 displays this weekend and another 60 in the coming week. As well as the firing teams, to make all this happen there is a backroom staff of 16 here today and they are all munching doughnuts! These mouth-watering delights come from Prudens, our local bakers in Markyate. To give you a flavour of the excitement surrounding this Saturday morning ritual, Linda has taken time out to record a 10-second promotional video. Over to you Linda...

Trick or Treat?

31 Oct 08. 2.17pm
Happy Halloween! Or All Hallows Eve.
Does anybody really know why we celebrate Hallow'een?? not many I'm sure, I certainly didn't really know, until today! A bit of an educational entry from me today. After some research I have the full story.

The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.
To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.

So there you have it a brief history of Halloween. Obviously it has evolved over the years and become incredibly commercialised (mainly in the States). Trick or Treating has become rather literal and been taken to extremes in some cases which is a big shame, and actually makes it a very terrifying time of year for some people.

I shall be ready at my door this evening handing out treats to any children with costumes that I deem worthy of them...and not giving just some hooded youth demanding food. If they threaten me with a trick I shall set Louis on them...although what he would do I dont know?? Slobber all over them? thats enough to make anyone run away :)

The late late show

30 Oct 08, 3.35pm
Computers, don't you just love them! They're like young children. When they behave they're wonderful but they will keep falling over! Ours has been down all day, suffering with a problem that sounds like the latest aerosol wasp killer. Raid 5! Apparently it had a dead drive which took a nice man from Dell most of the day to resurrect. Happily we're now all back up and running, if a little later than planned. Sod's Law that it happened on one of the busiest days of the year but Linda, Kate, Ali, Hayley & the rest of the team proved their unflappability by calmly getting on with the job minus internet, email, spreadsheets and database. All of which begs the question...

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!...

29 Oct 2008. 10.45am
Good morning from a wonderfully white Rocket Park! Yes it’s been snowing in our neck of the woods – apparently for the first time here in October since 1934! Normally I would get all excited about such an event, reverting back 20 years, on with my hat and gloves and out to play. But after a near death experience on my way to work involving black ice, a steep bend and a bollard, I must say the cold white stuff has fast lost its appeal...! I’m sure Ali and the lads would agree with me there too. Currently outside, working around the clock, their fingers to the bone, to load up vans galore with all the display kit needed for the season, the weather surely can’t be helping. The rest of us are really feeling quite guilty sat in our warm and cosy office - the guilt only slightly eased by the fact we are also furiously working away to ensure all the display admin side is 100% tickety-boo for each show. We’re winning the battle though!!

On the plus side, I’m sure Hayley’s deliciously warming hot chocolates with yummy cream and marshmallows will go down a treat today more so than ever – but be quick people - given half a chance I think I could guzzle the lot! ;o)

Off with their heads!

28 Oct 08, 10.12am
Should Jonathan Ross & Russell Brand be sacked for their BBC misdemeanour? A quick poll of the ladies here in the Fantastic Fireworks office (the lads are all outside loading vans) produced an overwhelming yes. Only Hayley came to their defence saying she could forgive them because they're both very funny. If the boys could have their say it would probably even up the score. What is certain is that by this time tomorrow it will all be forgotten.

The End?

27 Oct 08, 10.48am
Thank God It's Monday? With a weekend's pyro warm-up already behind us there is a feeling this Monday morning that we are peering into the foaming white water knowing that somewhere downriver, about two weeks hence, there is calm water.

Two weeks of early starts, very late finishes, thousands of logistical jigsaw pieces, frayed nerves, laughter, sometimes jovial, sometimes hysterical. And the very best way to prepare for this period? Well I type this with a dongle internet connection viewing rolling Somerset fields in a crisp autumn sun from the comfort of my motorhome enjoying my last day off before the energy mountains and stress valleys. So this week Tuesday is my Monday, so to speak.

It was Churchill who said as D Day unfolded "This is not the end, nor even the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning". Welcome to the end of our beginning.

Morning after the night before

26 Oct 08, 9.12am
The 'extra hour in bed' comes in handy to get up at the usual time and start clearing up after last night's festivities. The rain held off until the small hours, allowing our annual village fireworks and Halloween party to be enjoyed by the large gathering of children all dressed up for the occasion. The soup, hot dogs and pork & apple rolls lived up to their star billing. This was all good family fun in which the adults enjoyed dressing up as much as their kids. The fireworks (Fantastic Fireworks just to remind you!) were a great success too, with Canadian pyro Fred Wade, who had flown over with this wife Lynn especially for the occasion, pressing the buttons. My job was far more life-threatening, hand-firing the rockets and roman candles. Apart from a slightly singed finger, I emerged largely unscathed to a hero's welcome! That's my fireworks fun over for another year. Now it's back to the reality of the coming fortnight - helping our team get more than 100 shows out on the road and up in the sky.

Hot dogs, hot soup and The Scream

25 Oct 08, 9.45am
Today's blog comes to you live from the hamlet of Piccotts End in Hertfordshire, England, where preparations for tonight's community fireworks party are in full swing. My task is to assemble a selection of rockets and roman candles suitable for an audience of 70 adults and children. Tonight's display will be choreographed to music for the first time, an eclectic mix of night club and Star Wars. The firework I'm most looking forward to seeing and hearing is The Scream, a specially commissioned pyrotechnic work of art which owes much to Edvard Munch. Somehow the fireworks always look and feel more exciting in your own back garden. With hot soup, hot dogs and pork and apple rolls this is a traditional English winterfest. Long may it last.

While all this is going oin down south, the real action of the day is up at Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire. Here our senior team led by Steve and Dave are setting up tonight's annual Halloween spectacular. So far it looks like being a dry day. Fingers crossed.

Hot Chocolate Heaven

Friday 24th Oct. 5.01pm
Its official, the retail shop is now open and in full swing of things. This year to entice our customers to come along and visit we have installed a fancy tea/coffee/...and most importantly hot chocolate machine. There is nothing better on a chilly autumn day than a scrummy hot chocolate to warm the cockles, and it doesn't stop there. To crown this already yummy drink we are also providing marshmellows and sqirty cream.....absolutely heavenly. Needless to say the 'Hayley Special' as it has now been named is a hit amongst the ladies here at Rocket Park. The only downside is that you can only have one in place of your lunch due to the phenominal calorie content, a sacrifice I am more than happy to make.
We have also got fizzy pop and cartoons for the kids so that mummy and daddy can focus on their firework choice, so all in all we are unlike any other firework shop, providing a joyful family experience.

We have had a few birthdays this week at HQ, although I won't say who for fear of my life, but many happy returns to you all!!!

Another one bites the dust...

22 Oct 08, 1.15pm
It is with regret that I have to inform you that.................summer is over, yes I had to scrape the ice of my car window this morning and my garden had a distint white tinge to it. Don't worry though, along with the orders for overalls, tape, helmets and the even more essential tea and coffee we have ordered sunshine from 31 Oct - 9th November. We currently await delivery confirmation from our friends in the met office and will keep you posted.

Not Old, Just older!

23rd Oct 08, 09.00am

Yesterday I celebrated another Birthday at FF. It really is the wrong industry to work in if you want to go out and celebrate but still get up the next day at 5am. Thank you to everyone who signed my card.
I would also like to say a big thank you to everyone who has sponsored Team FF (Me) so far for the Santa Run. I am impressed by the faith you have in me actually being able to complete the run. My punishing training schedule will start after the season as I do not intend on letting anyone down.


"I like the bed that I'm sleepin in,
Just like me It's broken in,
It's not old .
Just older!"

Calm before the Storm

21 Oct 08, 9.10am
A busy weekend training again and a fine batch of new recruits have decided they too wish to work like dogs, in cold wet fields up and down the country all for that 10/20 minute adrenaline buzz. Welcome aboard! Yesterday saw the last of the designs finished and we now have risk assessments coming out of our ears. Otherwise all seems scarily calm.

Every day we die a little ...

20 Oct 08, 5.50pm
So go the words to the song. It seems to be a medical fact that when people die of natural causes quite a high proportion do so at around 4 a.m. in the morning. The body is at its lowest ebb. Here at Fantastic Fireworks, and I suspect at many other businesses, the witching hour is 9am on Monday mornings. Not only is this a popular time for people to call in sick, but for computer systems to 'go sick' too, like this morning. Our system had a tantrum and needed a lot of loving care to coax it into the beginning of another week of humming and whirring. And it rained. The Carpenters sang 'Rainy Days and Mondays' and we all know the Boomtown Rats didn't much care for the day either. So if you are feeling a bit icky, then pinch yourself awake at around 4 a.m., and if you are a computer try going straight from Sunday to Tuesday.

The Play's the thing

19 Oct 08, 10.54am
Having a theatre only a short walk from where I live is one of the bonuses of town life. Hemel Hempstead's excellent Old Town Theatre is a small, intimate 100-seater, perfect for the sort of rivetting play we saw last night. Humble Boy, by Charlotte Jones, mixes comedy and pathos in a spell-binding two hours which examine relationships and the dynamics which make or break them. The closing scene was so tense you could hear a pin drop. Well done to the cast of London Classic Theatre for a superb production. With the outstanding Rex cinema in neighbouring Berkhamsted and the Old Town Theatre both on our doorsteps we're lucky to have two counter-attractions to Strictly Come Dancing and the X-Factor.

Blogging from the motorway

18 Oct 08, 1.35pm
For every satisfied customer there is a mountain of logistics that produced the display. For every display there are miles to drive - lots of them. So I am sending this blog from The M1 (hands free of course) and Chris at FF HQ has agreed to be my typist.

We drive miles for site visits and presentations, miles to move stock around so it is in the right place at the right time, and even more miles to carry out the display itself. Part of the job specification for a professional pyrotechnist must be to enjoy driving, often in the dark, and often in the early hours of the morning. Today I made the trip from the Northern Office to Luton to collect material for upcoming displays - about 6 hours round trip. It's just as well Fantastic Fireworks are aiming towards carbon-neutral status.

Hey Ho, I'm a pyrotechnician tee hee hee
Hey Ho, it's the motorway life for me.
Steve B

Tick Tick Boom!

17 Oct 2008 2:01
OK so here is the answer (to last Friday's puzzle) you have all been waiting for! You completely fill the 5 gallon jug. From the 5 gallon jug fill the 3 gallon jug leaving you with two gallons in the 5 gallon jug. Empty the 3 gallon jug and pour the two gallons into the 3 gallon jug. Refill the five gallon jug and pour what you can to fill the 3 gallon jug. You now have four gallons in the 5 gallon jug!! Hooray!

Well done to all those that got it right.

And for all you film buffs out there, this problem appeared in Die Hard With A Vengeance. Bruce Willis and Samuel L Jackson have about 2 minutes to solve this problem and place exactly 4 gallons onto a scale to defuse a bomb in a busy city centre. Definitely worth a watch to see how they get on.

Now Ian, you can give up the day job

16 Oct 08, 10.12pm

Great to see our sister company ConfettiMagic showering Britain's Olympic heroes in confetti and streamers on TV today. Confetti has become the daytime must-have for any celebration & ConfettiMagic has established itself as first choice for event organisers like Jack Morton. From England's Rugby World Cup victory parade & the Ashes victory celebrations to today's London parade, ConfettiMagic is always at the heart of the action. The man behind this success is Fantastic Fireworks director Ian Woodroof. Ian leads a double life, as confetti master by day and firemaster by night. Well done Ian. Now you can get back to designing some of FF's firework displays!

20 days and counting...

16 Oct 08, 12.42am (from Henry in Peru)
Just wishing you all luck in the last 3 weeks running up to the big day. Things here have been good, we haven´t been shot at for at least 4 weeks and have spent time in the Andes. Glad to see the blog providing riddles and recipes, if only I could get to those apples!
Ali, still haven`t seen the phone holders and leave Peru in 2 days. I will keep my eyes open though...

Late Nights And Early Mornings

16 Oct 08, 6.30am (from Tom sleep-walking)
You know you're spending more time at work than at home when someone asks you what colour your sofa is and you can't remember. The Season is here and the intrepid Site Team are putting in the hours to ensure that everything is ready in time. We have been so busy that there is no longer time to play the ritual pranks on each other, however some members of the Team have started to produce their own works of "Art". It's times like these that people really show what they're made of and I can assure you that the Fantastic Fireworks Team outside are made of pure steel!

The difficult second blog...

15 Oct 08, 11.40am
Much like you hear bands talking about their ‘difficult second album’ or authors referring to their ‘difficult second novel’, we now have my difficult second blog...! I’ve been so busy printing, copying and laminating I honestly haven’t had time to let the creative juices flow this week! It seems I even have work lurking in the depths of my sub-conscious at the moment - to my embarrassment I was told I was mumbling about rockets, of all things, in my sleep the other night! Oh dear... it must be bad!!

So as I hurry back to my laminating frenzy, and in the spirit of the diverse blogs we’ve seen recently (poems, facts, riddles and quizzes to name but a few) I shall leave you today with a ‘Kate’s Top Tip’!* If there are any apples left in the kitchen, take some home, peel and slice, lightly fry with some shallots in a little butter and a splash of water. Meanwhile brown off pork chops in a pan, then add to the apples & shallots, cover, and let simmer in the apple juices for a few mins. Serve the chops with a spoonful of the apples & shallots on top, & some new potatoes and green veg... Mm-mm delish!! (Eat your heart out Nigella!)


* Please note I take no responsibility for any burnt kitchens or food poisoning as a result! ;o)

Going Shopping

14 Oct 08, 4.14 pm
Isn't spending money such FUN! However, when you are a business and you need to keep a tight reign is has to be CONTROLLED fun. My title of Operations Manager at Fantastic Fireworks sometimes translates to Chief Shopper. To go into a season with 100+ giant shows using 100+ giant firers and 200+ van-hire-days you need to make sure you do not run out of (takes a deep breath)* air gun nail pins, sticky hazard diamonds, 300mm wooden stakes, narrow guage electrical wire, fire extinguishers, helmets, hazard barrier tape, tachometer discs, gloves, elastic bands, mortar tubes, foil tape, hooded sweatshirts, vehicle hazard marking signs, sledgehammers, 'cake' boards, garden rakes, cable ties, black refuse sacks, 500mm wooden stakes, tie wire, overalls, and, essential to the fundamental functionality of employees, coffee. Lots of it.

* the list is MUCH longer but you get the gist ...

Apples a-plenty

13 Oct 08, 9.20am
Here at Rocket Park we don't just do fireworks. The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness has brought a bumper crop of apples. The office kitchen is brimming with a feast of russets all waiting to be eaten. For connoisseurs the Egremont Russet is a traditional English apple, with a distinctive pale yellow and orange skin, a mellow mouthful on its own or the perfect partner with a slice of cheese. Pink Lady and Golden Delicious it isn't. If you'd like to sample this rare treat, please call by any time soon. They're not good keepers but hurry and we'll keep some for you!

Now Hamilton will have to do it the hard way

12 Oct 08, 8.45am
Lewis Hamilton is giving all UK motor racing fans a nerve-jangling finish to the season. It always seems to be the way with British sportsmen. They like to do it the hard way, keeping us on the edge of our seats right to the finish. Compare that with Aussie cricket where the home fans just assume their team will win, or the way Swiss tennis fans must feel about Roger Federer. With England's football team on a roll at the moment it's tempting to think they might eventually be put in the same category, but don't bet on it. They have flattered to deceive too many times before.

The one that got away!!

11 Oct 08, 11.30am

With a day off from the office Dave has gone fishing today, braving the driving rain to catch the Big One as we once again open the doors of the Manchester Rocket Shop. Not sure about the validity of the fishermen's tales about 'the one that got away' we sent our superspy Digicam to see what was really going on. The picture on the right says it all....... Fishy or What??

Something for the Weekend

10 Oct 2008, 11:30am
Here's a little puzzle for you to think about. With a 3 gallon jug and a 5 gallon jug your task is to measure out EXACTLY 4 gallons of water. Apart from as much water as you like, you can only use the two jugs to solve this. For bonus points, name the film this puzzle appeared in.
Answers to follow next week.

Imagine

09 Oct 08, 6.38am
If the World was a different place John Lennon would be celebrating his 68th birthday today. The word Legend does not do him justice when you consider all that he accomplished in his life. So if you are one of the millions of people who own one of his records, stick one on your stereo and take a moment to spare a thought for one of our all time greats.


On a lighter note I am still waiting for another member of the Fantastic Fireworks team to step up and join me on my Santa Run!


"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans". J Lennon

Who am I ?

08 Oct 08, 8.38am
An insight to my life in real
Just so you get a good feel
Of who's in the office at the end of the phone
And who am I really when I get home?
When I leave Fantastic I walk the streets
I ply my trade to the people I meet
I ring on their door with my special ding dong
But whatever you're thinking you're probably wrong!
You can give me a call for a brochure for free
There's something to tempt the whole family
It's AVON I sell and with Christmas so near
Why not let me fill your stockings this year..

A Day at the Races

07 Oct 08, 1.53pm
Ok so it's the busiest time of the year and guess what I had to do yesterday..... spend the day at the races. Drink champagne and present the cup to the winner of the Fantastic Fireworks Sponsored Race at Royal Windsor racecourse. I know I will pay for it for the rest of the week trying to catch up but it was brilliant, and I won £20 on my careful £2 each way betting.

Well done to the Poets of Pyro

06 Oct 08, 12.30pm
Congratulations to Jubilee Fireworks who were last night crowned Champion of Champions at the British Musical Fireworks competition. Although I was present as competitions clerk and therefore strictly neutral, it's a pleasure for me now to be able to say that Jubilee put on a display of pure musical and visual poetry. The standard reached by all those taking part showed that the UK industry can produce truly world class displays. Fantastic Fireworks played a significant role each evening of the three-day event at Southport, Merseyside. While not taking part, we were invited to produce a pre-show demonstration of firework effects for the nightly audience. Our thanks to PK Roberts for volunteering to be visiting Professor of Pyrotechnics for the weekend.

It's raining again

05 Oct 08, 9.45am
There's nothing else for it, I'm just sitting here downloading useless gadgets for my iphone. Most useless is probably the Speedometer which tells me how fast I'm going (currently 0mph but may come in useful to test out whether Eurostar really does travel at 225mph). Next up is the DecibelMeter. Even in the quiet of a Sunday morning ambient noise is measuring 32db (that's me eating toast). Last but not least is the Seismometer which will tell me if we have an earthquake and if so how severe. For clients who want Fantastic Fireworks to make the earth move, I am now fully equipped to prove a point.

That Time of Year Again.....

04 Oct 08 14.00
Its true what they say about years going by quicker as each one passes and today sees the Manchester Rocket Shop move up a gear and into full swing for the season with the northern team once again says Hello to Heather and the girls who will be on hand to deal with the expected rush....... It is also rumoured that somewhere in the FF community there is a certain person with a birthday today - So, 'Happy Birthday' whoever you may be from everyone connected with FF......

BTW... no prizes given for those of you that guess who the birthday boy is!!

Boys will be boys

Oct 3rd. 14.10pm
Here at HQ I think all us bloggers do a sterling job of keeping everyone up to date on the latest news in the office....but what about out of the office???? Our wonderful team outside...putting up with whatever mother nature has to throw at them, to prepare shows for our even more wonderful audience.

It's a tough job outside in the elements away from a cosy office and soft chair...so what do our FF boys do to keep their spirits up? That's right, you guessed it. They play pranks on each other.

I am sure many more go on than the few I have giggled over. Just today one of them (who shall remain nameless) brought in a trick lighter, so when your thumb turns the wheel to create the spark instead of producing a calm small flame you proceeded to receive a fairly hefty electric shock! Poor Paul was caught out, and the first to have a nasty surprise. Just last week Toby went to retrieve his mobile phone from the site office only to find it completely encased in gaffer tape!

Needless to say a small war has been declared between them and they shall continue to play tricks on each other at every opportunity. Who knows what will happen in the next 6 weeks as the season unfolds.....

The Running Man

02 Oct 08, 2.15pm
Today I have decided to do my bit for charity. I will be running 5km whilst dressed as Santa for The Pasque Charity and Keech Cottage hospice in Luton. It is supposed to be a Fun Run but as always my competitive nature makes me think I will take it all too seriously.

I am currently working on several members of the Fantastic Fireworks staff to join me in my public humiliation. I am sure that they will not let me down and they too will be willing to take one for the Team!

Stop me if you've heard this one before...

01 Oct 08, 11.31am
Well one week in, and what an explosive week it's been! I'm really starting to find my feet and will soon be coming out of my shell (boom boom!). I've been having a blast with you all and can't help but feel that this is the start of a sparkling new career! ....Ok ok I’ll stop with the puns now, I can hear your groans of despair from here!!

I can honestly say this pyro malarkey is a whole new world for me. Not least discovering that some people would like to depart this mortal coil in a rocket! I'm actually liking that idea more and more... In fact as I write this I am venturing into yet deeper & darker unknown territory - I am losing my bloginity!! (gulp) There is no going back now...

I've been up to all sorts so far - from researching Disney characters on the internet, to getting to grips with all the curious FF lingo - vulcans or silver spinner coconuts anyone?! - and giving my humble opinion on Kajagoogoo and Kool & The Gang!! I have also laminated the first of a trillion firing orders. I feel the laminating machine & I are going to become the best of friends – or arch enemies – before the season is out!!

Anyway, before I rush back to my (at the moment) new best friend, I would just like to say a big thank you to all those I have met so far for the very warm welcome, and I am looking forward to meeting the rest of you soon :o)

Money! Money! Money!

30 Sept 08, 14.30
The banks and financial institutions may be falling around us but everyone of our customers are going full steam ahead with their Bonfire Night Celebrations. We are scurrying around designing, getting music mixed and fusing. We have nothing to fear but fear itself!

Shakin' All Over

29 Sept 08, 9.18am
If you ever thought that government regulations hit your own job or industry hard, then try, just for a moment, to consider how it would be to sell explosives to the public. Or detonate them in front of a crowd. If the thought makes you nervous it leaves officialdom positively quivering.

The British Pyrotechics Association (BPA) does a fine job in promoting safe firework displays and urging event organisers to use member companies who are 'proper'. They also represent the display industry in discussions with those who police the industry - principally the Health and Safety Executive Explosives Inspectorate.

These fine people at the H&SE have their home in Bootle, Merseyside, and it is their job to scrutinise imports, storage, and distribution of fireworks. The BPA has a meeting with them on October 1st to go over how things are working. Actually they are not. Bureaucracy is slowing the import clearance process to many months where it should be a few weeks. Someone suggested we give them a rocket or something stronger, but I am sure they were joking.

Really.

Scents and Sensibility

28 Sept 08, 9.58am
Sunday is a day for reflection. Looking at the assortment of eaux de toilette on my bathroom shelf this morning led me to an uncomfortable thought. They're stacking up faster than I can use them. If people don't stop giving them to me as Christmas presents they'll still be here after I'm gone. I've decided to address the problem. From tomorrow I'll start the day with a daily blast of Bulgari, Paco Rabane or Drakkar Noir. My calculation, based on moratoriums on things like nuclear weapons, is that if no one gives me any more, and I get through a full canister every six months, I should have exhausted current stocks by 2011. The price I'll pay for this is bound to be some peculiar looks in the office every morning. But I tell myself it's worth it just in order not to be outlived by Ralph Lauren.